Device for introducing pharmaceutical products into blister packs

ABSTRACT

A device for introducing a plurality of solid pharmaceutical products selected from the group consisting of tablets, two-part capsules, sugar-coated pills, gelatin capsules, and oblongs along a path into blister packs includes a distributing device having a roll frame, and at least one pair of first and second rolls mounted on the roll frame and rotatable in opposite directions, the first and second rolls having respective non-cylindrical sections facing one another and spaced apart so as to define a gap configured to provide a passage for each individual pharmaceutical product, wherein the first and second rolls rotate in opposite directions.

The invention pertains to a device of the type indicated in theintroductory clause of claim 1 for introducing solid pharmaceuticalproducts into blister packs.

Devices of this type are used when solid pharmaceutical products such astablets, capsules, sugar-coated pills, and the like are to be loadedinto blister packs. The basic goal is to supply exactly one product toeach well of the blister pack.

A device of the type indicated in the introductory clause of claim 1 isknown from DE 100 26 496 A1. From a supply container, in which theproducts are present as bulk material in completely random order, theproducts are gravity-fed to the individual wells of the blister pack bymeans of an isolating block.

A similar device for accomplishing the same task is known from U.S. Pat.No. 5,737,902 A.

A device for orienting asymmetric objects is known from FR 1,420,280 A.This device has a pair of counterrotating cylindrical rolls.

WO 99/24333 A1 describes a device for isolating agricultural products,by means of which the individual objects can be counted and weighed.

A device with which tablets can be packed in tubes is known from U.S.Pat. No. 4,930,289 A. The tubes can be sealed by counterrotating rolls.

A device with which tablets can be loaded into bottles is known fromU.S. Pat. No. 2,829,476 A.

The products to be packaged come in many different forms. Tablets areoften round and have a cylindrical center section, whereas the two endsurfaces have a greater or lesser degree of convex curvature. They arealso usually pressed from a preliminary product in the form of powder,which leads to the fact that the surface has a certain roughness. Agroove can also be pressed into one of the end surfaces to make iteasier to break the tablet in two. Products in the form of capsules andsugar-coated pills are also known.

In devices according to the state of the art, there is the problem thattwo or more such products can come in contact with each other at theentrance to the isolating block in such a way as to prevent the productsfrom entering the channels of the isolating block. The products start toback up, and the device no longer operates correctly, because it can nolonger fill all of the wells of the blister pack with a product. Thisleads to rejects and to production stoppages.

The invention is based on the task of reliably preventing the formationof such backups and thus of ensuring interruption-free production, inthe course of which each well of the blister pack is supplied with oneproduct.

The task indicated above is accomplished according to the invention bythe features of claim 1. Advantageous elaborations of the invention canbe derived from the dependent claims.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detailbelow on the basis of the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows an overall view of the device in partial cross section;

FIG. 2 shows an overall view of a distributing device;

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the distributing device;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of a roll frame with driven rolls;

FIG. 5 shows a view of a roll;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of two rolls;

FIGS. 7 a-7 c show partial plan views of the rolls of the distributingdevice with a tablet located above the rolls;

FIG. 8 shows a view of an isolating block;

FIG. 9 shows a detail of the block;

FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the block;

FIG. 11 shows various forms of solid pharmaceutical products;

FIGS. 12 a-12 b show design variants of the rolls; and

FIG. 13 shows a diagram of the placement of the rolls above theisolating block.

In FIG. 1, 1 designates a device for introducing solid pharmaceuticalproducts into blister packs. The uppermost part of the device 1 consistsof a pan 2, in which the products such as tablets, capsules,sugar-coated pills, and the like to be loaded into to the blister packsare present as bulk material. Underneath the device 1 is one of theseblister packs 3 with individual wells 4, each of which holds one object.The bottom surface of the pan 2 has an opening 5, which is closed off bya horizontal distributing device 6. The design of the distributingdevice 6 will be described in detail further below. Under thedistributing device 6 is an isolating block 7, which corresponds to thestate of the art. Between the isolating block 7 and the blister pack 3,the objects to be packaged pass through isolating channels 8, one suchisolating channel 8 being assigned to each well 4 of the blister pack 3.

FIG. 2 shows an overall view of the previously mentioned distributingdevice 6 in one of its inventive embodiments. In a roll frame 10, rolls11 are supported with the freedom to rotate. As will be discussed againlater, there are two different types of rolls 11, which alternate with,and are parallel to, each other. Above the rolls 11, a cover frame 12 isprovided, which has individual webs 13 with a more-or-less triangularcross section.

FIG. 3 shows the same distributing device 6 in the form of an explodeddiagram. At the top is the cover frame 12 with its webs 13. Underneathis the roll frame 10, in which two types of rolls 11, namely, firstrolls 11 a and second rolls 11 b, are arranged, always alternating witheach other. One roll 11 a forms a pair with the roll 11 b located to itsleft. In this first exemplary embodiment, each of the rolls 11 a, 11 bhas conical sections 15.

With respect to the spatial arrangement of the conical sections 15,there is a difference between the rolls 11 a and the rolls 11 b, namely,the angle of the conical sections 15 of the rolls 11 a is exactly theopposite of the angle of the conical sections of the rolls 11 b. Thiswill be shown in greater detail later on. Thus the essential feature ofthe inventive design according to this exemplary embodiment is alreadypresented. The other details of FIG. 3 show advantageous designs. Thispertains, for example, to the bushings 20, which are installed in theroll frame 10, and in which the rolls 11 a, 11 b are rotatablysupported. For the sake of clarity, only one of these bushings 20 isshown.

It is significant with respect to the invention, however, that the rolls11, that is, the rolls 11 a and 11 b, project at one end from the rollframe 10, which could already be seen in FIG. 2. The reason for thismeasure is that the rolls 11 a, 11 b must be driven, and according tothe invention the direction in which the rolls 11 a rotate is oppositethat in which the rolls 11 b rotate. This will also be shown anddescribed in more detail further below. It is advantageous for each roll11 a, 11 b to have on this projecting end an annular groove 21, in whicha belt 22 engages, which wraps part way around each of the rolls 11 a,11 b. The belt 22 also runs around a belt tensioner 23. In this way, allthe rolls 11 a, 11 b are connected to each other in a nonpositivemanner. When the belt 22 is driven in one direction, as indicated by anarrow in FIG. 3, all the rolls 11 a rotate in one direction and all therolls 11 b rotate in the opposite direction. The motorized drive itselfcan take various forms, any of which can be selected on the basis of theexpert's experience and knowledge. For example, the belt tensioner 23can be driven by a motor (not shown), or one of the rolls 11 a or 11 bcan be driven. Because of the nonpositive connection produced by thebelt 22, it is ensured that all the rolls 11 a, 11 b will rotate.

This design can also be seen in FIG. 4, which shows a side view of theroll frame 10 with the driven rolls 11 a, 11 b, where, in analogy toFIGS. 1-3, a partial cross section appears on the right. Visible hereagain are the rolls 11 a and 11 b in the roll frame 10, the belt 22, andthe belt tensioner 23. The triangular cross section of the webs 13 ofthe cover frame 12 can also be seen here.

Also appearing in the figure are two tablets T and the route, indicatedin the broken line, to be taken by one of them between two adjacentrolls 11 a and 11 b in the direction toward the isolating channel 8(FIG. 1), not shown here. These isolating channels 8 begin underneaththe gap between the adjacent rolls 11 a, 11 b.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a roll 11. The example shows a roll 11 a. Atone end, as already indicated in FIG. 3, it has an annular groove 21, inwhich the belt 22 (FIGS. 3 and 4) engages. According to the invention,the roll 11 a has noncylindrical sections. The design of thenoncylindrical sections is closely related to the shape of thepharmaceutical product to be packaged.

A first exemplary embodiment, which will be used when the products to bepackaged are tablets T, is explained in greater detail below (FIG. 4).In this case, it is advantageous for the rolls 11 a to have a periodicsequence of three special sections, in which a first cylindrical section30 with a certain larger diameter D₁ is followed by a noncylindricalsection 31, which is followed in turn by a second cylindrical section 32with a certain smaller diameter D₂. The noncylindrical section 31 hasthe shape of a truncated cone. The sequence of sections 30, 31, 32repeats several times over the length of the roll 11 a. The truncatedcone-shaped section 31 has the larger diameter D₁ on the end facing thefirst cylindrical section 30 and the smaller diameter D₂ at the endfacing the second cylindrical section 32.

The dimensions of the sections 30, 31, 32 are related to the shape andsize of the tablets T to be isolated by the device (FIG. 4). Thus, forexample, the overall length of a periodic sequence of the sections 30,31, 32 is approximately 14 mm, where each of the sections 30 and 32 is 2mm long, and the truncated cone-shaped section 31 accounts for theremaining length of approximately 10 mm. The ratio of the diameters D₁,D₂ is calculated more-or-less so that the conical surface has an angleof approximately 5° to the axis of the roll 11 a. The previouslymentioned dimensions are to be understood as examples for a certainshape and size of tablet. Depending on the shape and size of the tabletsT, these dimensions can vary in practice to a greater or lesser degree.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of two adjacent rolls, namely, a firstroll 11 a on the right and a second roll 11 b on the left. This thusrepresents another illustration of the rolls 11 a and 11 b already shownin FIG. 3. What is essential to the invention, however, is that thesequence of the sections 30, 31, 32 and the rotational direction,indicated by arrows in FIG. 6, of the rolls 11 a are opposite thesequence and the direction of the rolls 11 b. Between the two rolls 11 aand 11 b there is a gap 35, through which the tablets T (FIG. 4) canpass. The gap 35 is therefore larger by a certain amount than thethickness of the tablets 4. If, as in this exemplary embodiment, thenoncylindrical sections 31 are in the form of truncated cones, the gap35 will have a constant width.

If we now consider FIG. 6 together with FIG. 4, we see that the tabletsT can pass only through the gap 35 between the roll 11 a on the rightand the roll 11 b on the left. It can be seen in FIG. 4 that the tabletsT cannot pass through between a roll 11 b on the right and a roll 11 aadjacent on the left, first, because these two rolls 11 a, 11 b are soclose together that the tablets T cannot pass between them, and, second,because a web 13 is positioned above them. Because this web has atriangular cross section with one vertex pointing upward and the othertwo vertices being on the same level at the bottom, each web 13 has aslanted surface on each side, along which the tablets T slide in such away that the only the route which they can take is that between a roll11 a on the right and a roll 11 b on the left. The route between a roll11 b on the right and an adjacent roll 11 a on the left is blocked bythe web 13.

The difference in the rotational directions of the rolls 11 a and 11 bis extremely important for the accomplishment of the inventive task.Because the rolls 11 a rotate clockwise and the rolls 11 b rotatecounterclockwise, as seen from the ends of the rolls, the lateralsurfaces of the sections 30, 31, 32, seen from the gap 35, move upward.When there is contact between a point on a tablet T with one of thelateral surfaces of the sections 30, 31, 32, therefore, a force isexerted on the tablet T which is opposite the effect which gravity isexerting on the tablet. As a result, it is impossible for a tablet Twhich is occupying a slanted position between the rotating rolls 11 a,11 b to be pulled into the gap, where it could become jammed in place ordamaged.

If two tablets T were to be situated next to each other above the gap35, they would be carried upward by the lateral surfaces of one of thesections 30, 31, 32. Because the tablets T are in completely randomorder as bulk material in the space above the gap 35, the two tablets Tare in contact with other tablets T. It can thus be assumed that theforces acting on one of the individual tablets T will be different thanthe forces acting on the other one, a fact which always leads to theresult that the backup caused by two adjacent tablets T will be quicklycleared away. Experiments have confirmed this.

Whenever a tablet T occupies a position in space such that the tablet Tcan easily drop through the gap 35, the tablet T will pass through gap35.

Because the tablets T are in completely random order as bulk material inthe pan 2 and because each one can assume any position in space, thetablets T must be rotated in such a way that they can fall through thegap 35 by the force of gravity. This is already done to a certain extentby the interactions among the individual tablets T.

On the basis of the following FIGS. 7 a-7 c, it is now shown that thetablets T are rotated completely automatically by the noncylindricalsections 31, here in the form of truncated cones, of the two rolls 11 a,11 b in such a way that they can fall through the gap 35. FIGS. 7 a-7 cshow top views of the web 13, which is in the center. To the left andright are parts of the rolls 11 a, 11 b, and the gap 35, which ispresent between the rolls 11 a, 11 b. The isolating channels 8 alreadyshown in FIG. 1 can also be seen in these plan views. An upper blockingslide 40 can be seen in some of these isolating channels 8. These slidesare provided in all of the isolating channels 8. The upper blockingslides 40 belong to the isolating block 7 (FIG. 1). This will bediscussed again in conjunction with the following FIGS. 8, 9, and 10.

FIG. 7 a shows the least favorable case in which a tablet T ispositioned transversely to the gap 35 and to the axes of the rolls 11 a,11 b. For the sake of clarity, only a single tablet T is shown, so thatthe action of the rotating rolls 11 a, 11 b can be explained moreclearly. When we consider the position of the tablet T, we see that itrests on the rolls 11 a, 11 b at a minimum of two points. At the contactpoints, the roll 11 b on the left of the tablet T has a larger diameterthan the roll 11 a on the right of the tablet T. The rolls 11 a and 11 brotate in different directions, as can be seen in FIG. 6. It has beenfound that, as a result of this rotation of the rolls 11 a, 11 b, aforce is exerted on the tablet T which causes the tablet T to rotate.

FIG. 7 b shows the next position of the tablet produced by this rotationof the tablet T. The rotation continues and finally leads to theposition of the tablet T shown in FIG. 7 c. It has thus arrived in aposition in which it can drop under the effect of gravity between therolls 11 a and 11 b and into the isolating channel 8 underneath until itrests on the upper blocking slide 40 belonging to the isolating channel8.

What has been shown here on the basis of a single tablet T takes placemore-or-less simultaneously at all the similar locations of all therolls 11 a, 11 b. Tablets T are thus supplied in this way to all of theisolating channels 8.

FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 show the isolating block 7 already familiar fromFIG. 1. This block is largely the same as that according to the knownstate of the art, but it is described briefly here for the sake ofcompleteness.

FIG. 8 shows a partial cross section through the isolating block 7.Entrance openings 41 of the previously mentioned isolating channels 8(FIGS. 1, 7 a-c) are found on the top surface of the isolating block.Only nine of these entrance openings 41 are shown. The entrance openings41 are arranged in rows, each row having as many entrance openings asthere are truncated cone-shaped sections 31 on the rolls 11 a, 11 b(FIG. 5). There would therefore be ten of them, as can be seen in FIGS.5 and 6. The number of rows of entrance openings 41 corresponds to thenumber of pairs of rolls 11 a, 11 b, which would therefore also be 10,for example, as can be seen in FIG. 2. Thus there are a total of onehundred entrance openings 41 and correspondingly a total of one hundredisolating channels 8, so that tablets T can be supplied simultaneouslyto one hundred wells 4 (FIG. 1) of a blister pack 3.

It should be emphasized here, however, that the invention is not limitedto this matrix-like arrangement. The principle of the invention, namely,that two differently designed rolls 11 a, 11 b with noncylindricalsections 31 rotate in opposite directions, can also be applied in theform that only a single pair of rolls 11 a, 11 b is used. In this case,only one row of wells 4 (FIG. 1) of a blister pack will be filled withproduct during each work cycle. In the case of the matrix-likearrangement shown with a plurality of rolls 11 a, 11 b, it is possibleto fill all the wells 4 of a blister pack 3 simultaneously, whichobviously results in a significant increase in production output. Thisis a significant advantage.

FIG. 9 shows a magnified view of part of the isolating block 7 accordingto FIG. 8. Here it can be seen that the upper blocking slide 40 alreadyknown from FIGS. 7 a-7 c is located underneath the entrance opening 41.One of these upper blocking slides 40 is present in each of theisolating channels 8. In addition, a lower blocking slide 42 ispositioned in each of the isolating channels 8 underneath the upperblocking slide 40. The free distance between the upper blocking slides40 and the lower blocking slides 42 is slightly larger than the diameterof the tablets T (FIGS. 7 a-7 c).

FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional side view of the isolating block 7according to FIG. 9. Upper blocking slides 40 and lower blocking slides42 are shown, which are assigned to each of the isolating channels 8.The upper blocking slides 40 are shown in their retracted position. Inthis position, a tablet T (FIGS. 7 a-7 d) entering one of the isolatingchannels 8 through the entrance opening 41 can fall through to the lowerblocking slide 42. The lower blocking slides 42 are located here in theextended position, which makes it impossible for the tablets T to go anyfarther.

Then the upper blocking slides 40 are moved into the extended positionin the known manner, so that no tablets T can come from behind from thedistributing device 6. Then the lower blocking slide 42 is moved intothe retracted position. As a result, the tablet T can fall through thefollowing section of the isolating channel 8, as can be seen in FIG. 1,and drop into the well 4 of the blister pack 3.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, ten rows of ten isolating channels 8are present. Thus, blister packs with one hundred wells 4 can be filledwith tablets T, where all hundred wells 4 are filled simultaneously. Thenumber of rows and the number of isolating channels 8 in the individualrows depend on how many wells 4 there are in the blister pack 3. It istherefore possible to fill a blister pack 3 completely in a single step.As a result, a very high packaging rate is achieved.

It is important that the tablets should not become jammed up in thedistributing device 6 (FIG. 2), because this would prevent a tablet Tfrom entering an isolating channel 8 during a work cycle. If that wereto happen, a tablet T would be missing from the blister pack 3, whichwould mean in turn that the product would have to be rejected. As aresult of the invention, the goal is now achieved that such jams cannotoccur, with the result that uniform production output is achievedwithout rejects. In addition, a very high cycle rate can be reached inthe filling of blister packs 3. The cycle rates which can be achievedthrough the invention are much higher that those possible according tothe state of the art.

The inventive device is especially advantageous when tablets T with agroove for breaking are to be packaged. These grooves increase thenumber of jams which occur in the conventional devices.

The increase in the cycle rate, the avoidance of jams, and the avoidanceof the production stoppages caused by jams lead to more economicaloperation.

A first exemplary embodiment suitable for the filling of blister packs 3with tablets T has been presented above. Solid pharmaceutical productscan also have different shapes and very different dimensions. Inaddition, the products do not have to be tablets Z pressed from powder.Sugar-coated pills, two-part capsules, and soft gelatin capsules, forexample, are also known.

FIG. 11 shows top and side views of various types of solidpharmaceutical products. In the upper row, on the left, is a first formof tablet T, designated T₁. This tablet is round and has a cylindricalcenter section and convex top and bottom surfaces, where the radius ofcurvature is relatively large. Next on the right is a second form oftablet T, designated T₂. This is also round and has a cylindrical centersection and convex top and bottom surfaces, but the radius of curvatureis much smaller than that of the first example. Further toward the rightis a third form of tablet T designated T₃. This form is round andcylindrical and has bevels on both sides. On the extreme right in theupper row is a fourth form of tablet T designated T₄. It looks the samefrom the side as the second form, but, as the top view shows, it is notround but oval.

In the bottom row on the left is a solid pharmaceutical product in theform of a two-part capsule S. Next to it on the right is the form of asugar-coated pill D. These sugar-coated pills are another standard formof administration for pharmaceutical products. Although the round formis shown here, oval forms are also known. Further to the right is theform of a gelatin capsule G. These are often in the form of a rotationalellipsoid. Finally, at the extreme right, as yet another embodiment, isa form of a tablet T with an elongated form called an “oblong” O inprofessional circles. As an example, this tablet also has a groove R forbreaking, which can be present in any of the various other forms of thetablet T.

Many pharmaceutical manufacturers are constantly creating new forms suchas rhomboidal, triangular, pentagonal, and hexagonal shapes. Suchspecial forms often lead to considerable problems with the job ofintroducing the tablets into the blister packs 3. Within the scope ofthe present invention, however, even solid pharmaceutical products withthese special shapes can be packaged with ease.

It is obvious that the shapes of the rolls 11 a, 11 b must be designedto accommodate the specific type of solid pharmaceutical product. By wayof example, several special advantageous designs for the rolls 11 a, 11b are shown. The diagram is not exclusive. For additional types ofproducts, some of which are shown in FIG. 11, different roll designswill be advantageous and can be used without abandoning the principle ofthe invention.

Without claiming to be exhaustive, FIGS. 12 and 12 b show severalspecial designs of the rolls 11 a, 11 b, which lie within the scope ofthe inventive principle. Each shows a plan view of parts of the tworolls 11 a, 11 b, representing sections removed from rolls analogous tothose shown in FIG. 6. What is shown therefore is a part of therepeating sequence of individual sections 30, 31, 32 shown in FIGS. 5and 6, extending along the length of the rolls 11 a, 11 b.

The example shown in FIG. 12 a is characterized in that thatnoncylindrical section 31 does not have a conical form but ratherrepresents a segment of a parabola. As a result, the gap 35 is notuniform in width along its entire extent. As also shown in FIG. 6, therolls 11 a, 11 b are again mirror images of each other with respect tothe sequence of sections 30, 31, 32. This form of the rolls 11 a, 11 bis suitable for solid pharmaceutical products with highly curved top andbottom surfaces.

The example shown in FIG. 12 b is similar. The second cylindricalsection 32 is lacking here, however. Between two sections 30, thenoncylindrical section 31 is designed so that it has a hyperbolic form.Because the hyperbolic form is the same for both rolls 11 a, 11 b, thetwo rolls 11 a, 11 b are therefore identical. This roll form isespecially suitable for elongated pharmaceutical products such astwo-part capsules S (FIG. 11) and oblongs.

FIG. 13 shows a diagram of the placement of the rolls 11 a, 11 b abovethe isolating block 7 (FIG. 1). We see an isolating channel 8 and theassociated entrance opening 41 with the upper blocking slide 40 and thelower blocking slide 42. The free distance between the upper blockingslide 40 and the lower blocking slide 42 is slightly larger than theheight of a tablet T. It is also important, which is why this detail isshown here, that the position of the rolls 11 a, 11 b above theisolating block 7 is such that only a single tablet T can assume avertical position in the space between the rolls 11 a, 11 b and abovethe upper blocking slide 40, i.e., a position suitable for introductioninto the blister pack 3 (FIG. 1). The distance between the upper edge ofthe upper blocking slide 40 and the connecting line between the axes ofthe rolls 11 a, 11 b is therefore significant here. This distance shouldnot be greater than the height of a tablet T. When this condition issatisfied, the result is that the other tablets T present above theconnecting line will never, in practice, be able to stand vertically.Instead, because of the interaction of forces among them and theposition of the noncylindrical sections 31 (FIG. 5) (not shown here),they will all be positioned at a pronounced angle. They then get in eachother's way, so that none of the tablets T present in the upper areawill be able to fall through to the upper blocking slide 40 when it ispulled back to allow the tablet already resting on the upper blockingslide 40 to drop down to the lower blocking slide 42. The next tablet Tcannot be oriented in the manner described on the basis of FIGS. 7 a-7 cuntil the rolls 11 a, 11 b have rotated by a certain amount.

Because there are forms of such pharmaceutical products which can beoriented relatively easily, such as sugar-coated pills and the two-partcapsules with their normally smooth surfaces, it can be advantageous forthe rotational movement of the rolls 11 a, 11 b to proceed notcontinuously but rather discontinuously. It can be advantageous, forexample, to stop the rotational movement before the upper blocking slide40 is moved from the extended position shown in FIG. 13 back into theretracted position shown in FIG. 10.

It can also be advantageous for the rotational speed of the rolls 11 a,11 b not to be the same but rather different. This can be achieved, forexample, by providing separate drive motors, one for the first rolls 11a and one for the second rolls 11 b. In the case of a drive with a belt22 such as that shown in FIG. 3, however, it is possible for the rolls11 a and 11 b to have different diameters at the ends with the annulargrooves 21.

In an application of the inventive principle, any type of solidpharmaceutical product, namely, tablets T of different shapes and sizes,as well as two-part capsules S, sugar-coated pills D, gelatin capsulesG, oblongs O, and other forms can be loaded into the blister packs 3(FIG. 1) in a highly economical and reliable manner.

1-12. (canceled)
 13. A device for introducing a plurality of solidpharmaceutical products selected from the group consisting of tablets,two-part capsules, sugar-coated pills, gelatin capsules, and oblongsalong a path into a blister pack, the device comprising: a distributingdevice having: a roll frame; at least one pair of first and secondsrolls rotatably mounted on the roll frame, the first and second rollshaving respective non-cylindrical sections facing one another and spacedapart so as to define a gap configured to provide a passage for anindividual pharmaceutical product; a first means for rotating the firstroll; and a second means for rotating the second roll in a directionopposite a direction of rotation of the first roll.
 14. The device ofclaim 13, further comprising: a pan positioned and configured to receivethe pharmaceutical products loaded as bulk material and to feed thepharmaceutical products to the first and second rolls; an isolatingblock positioned to receive the individual pharmaceutical products fromthe gap of the distributing device; and a plurality of isolatingchannels extending downstream from the isolating block and configured tosequentially convey each individual pharmaceutical product to anindividual well of the blister pack.
 15. The device of claim 13, whereinthe noncylindrical sections of the first and second rolls aresubstantially conically shaped and are oriented so that the gap formedbetween the conically shaped noncylindrical sections is of substantiallyuniform width.
 16. The device of claim 13, wherein the noncylindricalsections of the first and second rolls each are parabolically shaped.17. The device of claim 13, wherein the noncylindrical sections of thefirst and second rolls each are hyperbolically shaped.
 18. The device ofclaim 13, comprising a plurality of pairs of first and second rolls. 19.The device of claim 18, further comprising a cover frame having a webextending parallel to axes of the rolls, and configured and positionedto prevent the individual pharmaceutical products from passing betweenpairs of rolls and to permit the individual pharmaceutical products topass between the first and second rolls of a pair of rolls.
 20. Thedevice of claim 19, wherein the web has a substantially triangularcross-section and is oriented so that slanted surfaces of the web guidethe pharmaceutical products towards the gap between the first and secondrolls of each roll pair.
 21. The device of claim 13, wherein the firstand second means for rotating comprise a motor driven device.
 22. Thedevice of claim 18, wherein the first and second means for rotatingcomprise a motor driven device operatively connected to the rolls by anendless belt.
 23. The device of claim 13, wherein the first and secondmeans are capable of rotating the rolls at different rotational speeds.24. The device of claim 18, wherein the first and second means arecapable of rotating the rolls at different rotational speeds.
 25. Thedevice of claim 18, wherein the first means is capable of rotating allof the first rolls and wherein the second means is capable of rotatingall of the second rolls.
 26. The device of claim 23, wherein the firstand second means are operatively connected to a driven end of each ofthe first and second rolls, respectively, and the driven end of thefirst roll has a different diameter than the driven end of the secondroll.
 27. The device of claim 13, wherein the first and second meanscomprise a single driving means.
 28. The device of claim 13, wherein thefirst and second means comprise two driving means.